Firing attachment for breech-loading ordnance.



Patented May s, 1902.

I No. 699,256.

I v .1. w. STOCK ETT. FI RING ATTACHMENT FOB BREED" LOADING UBDNANGE.

(Application filed June 8, 1901.)

(lo llbdal.)

fn benior S Mm UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

JOHN w. STOOKETT, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT or COLUMBIA.

FIRING ATTACHMENT FOR BllEECH-LOADING ORDNANCE.

- SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 699,256, dated May 6, 1902.-

Originall application filed October 20, 1900, erial No. 33,761." Divided and this application filed June 3, 1901. Serial No; 62,994. (No model.)

T at whom it may conccrnr Be it known that 1, JOHN W. STooKn'rna citizen of the United States,residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, have'invented certain new and useful Improvements in Firing Attachments for Breech-Loading Ordnance, of which the following'is a specification. My invention relates to firing attachments for breech-loading ordnance, and more particularly to that class of breech-loading ordnancein which separate loadingfor the ammunition is employed-that is, the projectile and itspropelling charge are separate.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple, cheap, and effective firing mechanism which is adapted to operate either electrically or frictionally for firing the primer,

and to so arrange the parts that they will operate practically and successfully at the desired times, but cannot be operated in such a manner as to cause damage to the gun or danger to the operators.

To these ends my invention consists in the various features of construction and arrangement of parts having the general mode of operation substantially as hereinafter more particularly pointed out. 7

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a rear elevation of a portion of a carrier and breech-block having the improved firing attachment applied thereto. Fig.2 is a longitudinal vertical section on the line 2 2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a front view of the slide. Fig. 4 is a plan view of a housing. Figs. 5, 6, and 7am respectively plan, rear, and side views of a cylindrical tumbler; and Figs.8 and 9 are side and rear views of an ejector.

WVhile my attachment can be applied to ordnance of different constructions, I have shown sufficient in the present drawings of a construction to enable those skilled in the art to make-and use'the invention and have shown it applied to a breech-block in which there is a spindle adapted to support a gas check pad, and the breech-block is arranged so that it is free to turn about the spindle,

while the spindle is held fixed to the blockcarrier in a convenient position.

Thus, referring to the drawings, A represents a portion of a carrier on which is mountof a screw A which extends into a segmental.

groove B in the breech-block and projects into a longitudinal slot 0 in the spindle O, which construction permits the rotation or partial rotation of the breech-block on the carrier, but prevents the spindle C from rotating. This spindle O is provided with a passage c, which is enlarged at the outer end, as at c, where it is adapted to receive the primer or firing-tube P. The breech-block is recessed, as at B and in the present instance is shown as provided with a washer or hearing 13 and another bearing B between which are placed-the balls B and there is a nut 0 engaging the spindle O, and the bearing B for holding the parts together, so as to permit.

the breech-block to be rotated about the spindle and on the block-carrier.

Any suitable means for rotating the block ceive the ejector E, and there are slots at, re?

ceiving the. studs or pins 6 on the ejector. These studs or pins 6 are formed integral with the body of the ejector, so that the ejector can be dropped into position in the recess-D in the housing, and thepins e slip into the inclined slots cl, and the ejector is held therein and removed without the necessity of'removing a pin or hearing for, the ejector, as is usually the case. The ejector is provided at its upper end with a projection e, and its lower end is bifurcated to straddle the primer, and one bifurcation is provided with a lug e adapted to cooperate with a cylindrical tumbler, hereinafter described.

Mounted in the housing D is a slide F, which has on its inner face a groove F, adaptedto be engaged by a pin or stud B mountedon an extension 13 of the breech-block and so arranged that as the breech-block is rotated to unlock the breech the pin or stud B causes the slide to move at right angles to the end of the spindle, which movement is preferably at first slow and then quickens, so that the slide is moved in accordance with the shape of the groove F. A handle F is also attached to the slide, by means of which it can be raised or lowered manually when desired. The stud or pin 13 during this time passes through the vertical portion of the groove F, as best seen in Fig.

Mounted in the slide F are the means for operating the ejector E, and in this instance these means consist of a loose pin or ball G, which is mounted in an oblique slot G. The arrangement of the parts is such that when the slide is moved upward or away from its normal position the loose pin G comes in contact with the projection e of the ejector E, which causes its bifurcated end to move outward and throw out the primer or firing-tube P. In order that the ejector E may return to its original position to allow for the insertion of a new or unfired primer, the loose pin G is so mounted in the oblique slot G that after the pin has tripped or operated the ejector E,- as above described, the ejector in turndrops back by gravity to its original position, and in so doing forces the loose pin G out of its-way into the upper portion of the oblique slot- G. Thev loose pin then. rolls down the inclined slot G and rests on top of the projection e of the ejector E and there remains until the slide F is forced down by the pin or studB and during this movement of the slide the loose pin or ball is again forced toward the upper end of the oblique slot G until it is free to pass around the outer end of the projection e of the ejector E. Then finally the loose pin by gravity returns to its normal position (shown in Fig. 2) ready to trip the ejector E, so as to eject another primer after the breech has been closed and is ready to open again.

Itmust be understood that it is necessary to have the ejector return to its original position before the breech-block is closed, as the primer should be inserted while the breechblock is open or in its unlocked position, and in this open or unlocked position the slide F is held up by the stud orpiu B on the breechblock, and it is for this reason thatI provide means, as the loose pin or ball, which performs thefunction of, operating the ejector when the slide is moved and which permits both the ejector and the pin or ball to assume their normal positions by gravity after they have performed the function of ejecting the primer.

In order to fire or discharge the primer, I

- providemeans whereby this may be done electrically or frictionally, so that the same construction may be used eitherwith an electric or friction primer, and in the present instance the slide F is provided with an insulated plate II, secured thereto in any suitable manner,

as by screws h h, and separated from the slide by suitable insulation 11. This plate is so arranged that its lower end will normally come in contact with the primer-wire P and make electric contact therewith, and in the primer shown the wire is provided with ahead P whereby it can be frictionally operated, as hereinafter described. The plate His provided with. a suitable bindingscrew .and socket H in the usual manner, by means of which proper electrical connections can be made. The slide I is also provided with means for firing the primer frictionally, as above intimated, and in the present instance I have provided a hinged leaf I, which is pivotally mounted on the slide at its upper end, as by the screw 1, and. is preferably .under stress to keep it in position, and in the present instance I have shown a spring 1 surrounding the screw 1 and bearing on the slide and on the hinged leaf. As shown, this leaf is slotted or cut away at its upper portion to embrace the binding-screw of the insulated plate H,and the lower end of the leaf is slotted, as at 1 so that it may straddle the primerwire P when the slide is down in its operative position and the gun is ready for firing. The leaf is also preferably provided with some suitable means, as an eye 1 to which a lanyard or other similar device may be attached for operating the leaf, and when the leaf is so operated its lower portion engages the head or button I? on the rear end of the primerwire and pulls the primer-wire through its friction composition within the primer, thus igniting the same and firing the gun. It will thus be seen that the same primer-Wire is curployed to fire the piece, either electrically or by friction at will, and it will further be observed that it will be impossible to fire the gun when the breech-block is in its unlocked position either by the electric current or by the frictional means, as the slide F is then held up and away from the primer-wire by the pin or stud B so that neither the insulated plate nor the hinged leaf can engage with the primer-wire until the breech is closed and the slide F restored to its normal position.

As above intimated, the slide is operated automatically on rotating the breech-block, or it may be operated manually by the handle F in case, for instance, of misiire or it is desirable to eject the primer without opening the breech of the gun, as this latter would be dangerous for the operator under some circumstances which will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. Moreover, the slide is preferably provided with some sort of means to prevent its being moved entirely out of its housing, especially when operated by the bandle, and while any suitable means may be used I have shown a screw 01, mounted in the housing D and adapted to engage a slot or recessfin the side of the slide.

Vhen a fresh primer has been applied, (which is done when the breech-block is open,) in swinging the breech-block to close the breech there 'is apt to be a rush of air through the passage orvent c in the spindle, which tends to prematurely. eject the unfired primer, and it is desirabletoprovidemeansfor holding the primer in its seat in the rear end of thespindlewhen the slide F is raised.

To do this, jI- provide what'I have termed a 5 cylindrical tumbler K, which in the present instance is mounted on .the spline-screw D" and is provided withaslot k, adapted to ena e a in lc onthe housin -D which serves g D D 7 upper surface "with two lugs 70 I to limit therotationzof the tumbler K. This cylindrical tumbler is further provided onits The rear lug k acts to prevent the primerfrom being forced out ot'its seat, while the front lug 70 operatesto provide a means for rotating the tumbler and throwing the rearlug kiout ofthe way when it is desired to eject theprimer and in the way when-it is desired to hold anew or unfired-primer in placef Whenthe primer .is being inserted, its head comes in. contact withthebeveledsurface]; on the front ing 76 and causes the tumbler torock to one side,

so as to bring the rearing in the path of the primer afterthe head of the primer has passed this lug, thus bringing the rear lug lc in such position that it will be inthe rear of and overlap the'head of'theprimer and prevent its premature displacement, as shown" in Fig. 1. f course it is necessary to move the rear lug Won the tumbler outof the way before-the primer can be ejected, and there'- fore the lug e -on the ejector'Eis arranged to come in contact with the beveled surface 70 on the lug 70 and this causes the tumbler to rock and throwsthe lug k outof the way; l1l1'11il the primer is ejected. 'It'will thus be seenthatthe tumbler is rocked into locking position by the act of inserting the primer,

and it is also rocked into unlocking positionbytheoperatioziof-theejector. 1

a short'distance fromthe head of the primer 7 abundance of leeway for inserting his primer when the slidevis up. If by chance the pri- T5 the primer c'ompletel'yhome. a

- it will be'understood that they maybe-used when'thesame is fully inserted in its seat in the'en'd of the spindle. This is done intentionally, so that the'cannoneer will have an mer-isnot fully seatedby the cannoneer when the slide is returnedtoitsjnormal position, the bevel f on the inner face thereof forces Havingthusdescribed the details of construction and'pointed out generally the mode of operation of the partsof myimprovement,

I separatelyorin combinationwith'each other,

as shown, or in combination w-ith' other cooperating parts, andthe details of constructionmay be varied by those skilled inthe art to adapt them'for use in-connection with dif-: ferent formsof breech blocks, and I there-" fore do not limit myselflto the precise-details 1 of construction shown and described. Some of the features, broadly considered, are'shown in my application, Serial No. 33,761, filed 0c.-

tober- 20,' 1900, but are not claimed therein,

breech-block mounted thereon,-a'spindle within the breech-block, and a key mounted on the carrier, the breech-block and-spindle being provided with grooves for-the key whereby the breech-block can rotate and the spindle is prevented from rotating, substan-' tially as described.

3. The combination with a spindle having a firing-openingfor the reception of the primer,

ofmeans for holding the primer in position, and an ejector arranged to operatesaid means,

before ejecting the'primer, substantially'as described.

. 4. The combination withaspindle having'afiring-opening forthe reception'of the primer,

of means for retaining the primer in position,

i an ejectorfor operating said means and ejectin g the primer,andfiring mechanism arranged to. operate the ejector,- substantially as 'de-' scribed. I 5. Thecombinationwith a spindle having a Ioo firing-opening for the reception of the primer,

of means for retaining the primerin position,

:and means connected to said movable firing mechanism for opera ting the ejector, substantiallyas described. It will be seen that the-lug 76 isdisposed at .6. Thecombination firing-opening for the reception of the primer,

of a tumbler for retaining'the primer in posian ejector arranged to operate said-means and l eject theip'rime'r, a movable firing mechanism,"

with a spindle having a tion said tumbler-being provided withlugs by means ofwhichit is brought intoinoperative and operative position by the insertion'o-f the primer intothe opening, substantially-as de-' firing-opening for the reception of theprimer, of an ejectorg-and aslide-provided with an oblique slotand a loose pin mounted in theistantially'as described. V v

' with aspindle havinga firing-opening for the reception of the primer,- of a slide having anoblique slot, and 'a loose pin mounted insaid slot and adapted toens 7; Thecombination with'a spindle having a slot and adapted to engage the ejector, sub- 8. The combination gage and operate the ejector, substantially as described. i I 9. The combination with a spindle having-a firingopening'for'the receptionof the primer,

of an ejector having a projection, a slidehavin g a recess embracing the pro ection and-havdescribed.

10. The combination with a spindle having a firing opening for the reception of the primer, of a slide, an insulated plate mounted onthe slide and adapted to engage the primer-wire, and a leaf also mounted on the slide adapted to embrace the primer-wire, substantially as described.

11. The combination with a spindle having a firing-opening for the reception of a primer, of a housing mounted on the spindle, a slide movably mounted in the housing; said slide being provided with an oblique slot, a loose pin mounted in the slot, an ejector operated by said pin, and a handle whereby the slide may be manually moved and the ejector 0perated to eject the primer, substantially as described.

12. The combination with a spindle having a firing -opening for the reception of the primer, of a housing mounted on the spindle, an ejector mounted in the housing and having a projection, a slide mounted in the housing having a recess embracing the projection and an oblique slot, and a loose pin mounted in the slot and adapted to engage the projec tion, substantially as described.

13. The combination with a spindle having a firing opening for the reception of the primer, of a housing mounted on the spindle, an ejector mounted in the housing and having a projection, a slide mounted in the housing and having a recess embracing the projection and also having an oblique slot, and a loose pin mounted in said slot and adapted to engage said projection, substantially as described.

14. The combination with a. spindle having a firing-opening for the reception of the block engaging said groove, substantially as described. I

16. The combination with a spindle having a firing-opening for the reception of the primer, of a housing mounted on the spindle, means for retaining the primer in position, an ejector mounted in the housing'and provided with a lug for operating said retaining means, a slide mounted in the housing, and means for operating the ejector and thereby operating the retaining means and ejecting the primer, substantially as described.

17. The combination with a spindle having a firing-opening for the reception of the primer, of an ejector, a slide, having an ob-' lique slot, and a loose pin mounted in said slot, whereby the ejector is positively operated when the slide is moved in one direction and the ejector and pin resume their normal positions after the primer is ejected, substan 10. The combination with a gun having a.

firing opening for the reception of a primer, of an ejector, and a rocking primer-retainer adapted to engage the outer rear end of the primer, substantially as described.

20. The combination with a gun having a firing-opening for the reception of a primer, of an automatic primer-ejector, and arocking' primer-retainer adapted to engage the outer rear end of the primer and mounted independently of the ejector, substantially as described.

21. The combination with a gun having a firing-opening for the reception of a primer, of an automatic primer-ejector, a rocking primer-retainer adapted to engage the outer rear end of the primer and mounted independently of the ejector, and means connected with the ejector for operating the retainer, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN STOCKETT.

\Vitnesses:

I HENRY J. GROSS,

CLARENCE B. RHEEM. 

